Chibok girls video: We are ‘in touch’ with Boko Haram – FG

Video grab image created on August 14, 2016 taken from a video released on youtube purportedly by Islamist group Boko Haram showing what is claimed to be one of the groups fighters at an undisclosed location standing in front of girls allegedly kidnapped from Chibok in April 2014. Photo: AFP

The federal government said on Sunday it is in contact with those claiming to be behind a new Boko Haram video purportedly showing schoolgirls kidnapped from the town of Chibok two years ago.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed said in a statement that the government is talking with “those purportedly behind the video”.

“We are being extremely careful because the situation has been compounded by the split in the leadership of Boko Haram,” Mohammed said.

He was referring to a leadership dispute between Abubakar Shekau, who claims he is still in charge, and apparent new chief Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who is backed by the Islamic State group (IS).

“Since this is not the first time we have been contacted over the issue, we want to be doubly sure that those we are in touch with are who they claim to be,” Mohammed said.

When a similar video was released in April, the Nigerian government also responded with caution.

Boko Haram has long been known to be splintered, with various factions of ideologically sympathetic fighters who do not always act under the direct orders of senior commanders.